Hitching-post.



' Patented lune lo, I902.

J. A. TAYLOR. HITCHING POST.

(Applica tion filed Nov. 12, 1901.)

(No Model.)

' [NVENTOR WITNESSES:

UNITED "STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. TAYLOR, OF DUNCAN, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Q. 701,964, dated June 10,1902. Application filed November 12, 1901 Serial No. 82,026. (No'modeh)I T0 at whom it Wtay concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES A. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Duncan, in the county of Stark, State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitching-Posts; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to hitching-posts; and it has for its object toprovide a device of this nature to which a hitching-strap may be easilyand quickly attached and from which it may be as easily removed andwithout requiring the use of a buckle or snap-hook or other attachmenton the strap itself.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a construction whichwill hold the strap firmly when engaged, so that it cannot be drawn fromthe post by the animal that is hitched and will not become accidentallydisengaged.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood fromthe following description.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in whichlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the post with a hitching-strapengaged therewith. Fig. 2 is a top jplan view of the post with the strapengaged. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section through the post andbetween the spaced members atthe upper end thereof.

Referring now tothe drawings, there is shown a post comprising ajstemportion 5, the upper end of which is bifurcated to form the two members6 and 7, having straight parallel inner sides or edges and which membersare of open construction, forming loops, as shown. A trigger or latchlever 8 is provided and has an ear 9 disposed between the inner faces ofthe members 6 and '7, and through which ear and the members is passed apivotpin 10, the latch extending at both sides of the ear, as shown, andhaving its lower end broadened to form a thumb-piece 11. By pressingupon the thumb-piece the upper end of the latch is moved from betweenthe members 6 and 7, and whenthe thumb-piece is released the'latoh isreturned for its upper end to lie between the members by means of thehelical returning-spring 12, disposed between the thumb-piece and theadjacent face of the post and seated in depressions therein.-

In practice the end of the hitching-strap (shown at 15) is passedbetween the member 6 and the latch, then around behind the latch, thenbetween the latch and the member 7, so that if theends of the strap bepulled in adirection away from the post the latch will be pulled intoposition between the members 6 and 7 in the same direction as urged bythe helical spring. The-same result is secured when one end of the strapis pulled in the same direction, the friction between the strap and thelatch being sufficient under the influence'of the helical spring toinsure movement of the latch with the strap.

.To prevent upward movement of the strap from the upper end of thelatch, a keeper 16 is provided. Thiskeeper, as shown, consists of a Ushaped wire, the ends of which are engaged in the members 6 and 7, so asto bridge the members 6 and 7 at a point below the upper end of thelatch,and thus if the strap be moved upwardly before it can be drawnfrom the latch it will strike the keeper and further upward movementthereof will be prevented. To further prevent disengagement of the strapfrom the post, as'where a double team is to be-hitched, thestrap may betaken through the loop of member 7,- thenth'rough the loop of member 6,and'then around and behind the latch.

In practice modifications may be made and any suitable materials may beused and proportions observed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is 1. A hitching-post having its upper end bifurcated toform laterally-spaced members, a latch pivotally mounted for-movementlof its end between the members, means for holding the latch yieldablyin positionwith its end be tween the members, anda' keeper connectingthe spaced members. at the opposite side of the post from the latchand-belowthe upper end of the latch. V H 2. I A hitching-post having itsupper end bifurcated to form laterally-spaced members, a

latch having an ear pivotally mounted bemembers of the post beingin theform of loops, [0 tween the members at the lower ends thereof, as andfor the purpose set forth. said latch being adapted for movement with Intestimony whereof I affix my signature its illppar encli between therlnernbers, means in presence of two Witnesses.

5 or 101 ing t 1e latch yieldab y with its upper r r end between thespaced members, and a JAMED F A1 LOB keeper connecting the spacedmembers at the Witnesses: opposite sides thereof from the latch and he-LAURO F. O. BOSWORTH, low the upper end of the latch, the spaced MARIEHENRY.

